Next door neighbour has asked permission to put a flue on the side of his kitchen extension

UnsureAboutthis

There is nothing stopping them from installing the extractor vent, if it is for a cooker hood, in the wall backing onto their garden. The downside of this is the cost to the next-door neighbour, and often, depending on the length of the extension pipe, it may not be as effective as an extractor vent that comes straight out of a wall.

They seem like reasonable people and will understand and hopefully appreciate your concerns.

Mgman1965

My look on this is if there is no intrusion (say a vent cover screwed onto the wall) into the neighbours "airspace" as in its just a flush hole in the wall neighbour can say no, but not really stop it.

As said,  they could then obstruct it with say a shed or such like and nothing they could do to make it unobstructed, BUT, relations are likely to fall apart and bad feelings are likely (and neighbour dispute be declared if you try and sell atvany time).

Tough call, I'd likely say yes, but point out it could be obstructed at some point if I needed it to be for an extension/ fence etc.

sheramber

Mgman1965 said:

My look on this is if there is no intrusion (say a vent cover screwed onto the wall) into the neighbours "airspace" as in its just a flush hole in the wall neighbour can say no, but not really stop it.

As said,  they could then obstruct it with say a shed or such like and nothing they could do to make it unobstructed, BUT, relations are likely to fall apart and bad feelings are likely (and neighbour dispute be declared if you try and sell atvany time).

Tough call, I'd likely say yes, but point out it could be obstructed at some point if I needed it to be for an extension/ fence etc.

First post

. He has said it will only come out by about two inches.

so not flush. 

subjecttocontract

I don't understand why it has to protrude by 2 inches. Every vent I've ever installed has been virtually flush.

WIAWSNB

Mgman1965 said:

My look on this is if there is no intrusion (say a vent cover screwed onto the wall) into the neighbours "airspace" as in its just a flush hole in the wall neighbour can say no, but not really stop it.
As said,  they could then obstruct it with say a shed or such like and nothing they could do to make it unobstructed, BUT, relations are likely to fall apart and bad feelings are likely (and neighbour dispute be declared if you try and sell at any time).
Tough call, I'd likely say yes, but point out it could be obstructed at some point if I needed it to be for an extension/ fence etc.

I think you have outlined the most potentially awkward outcome, but still think they should go ahead and allow this?
"Yes, you can fit the exhaust there, but if it later turns out to be too intrusive - smell or noise - I'm afraid you'll have to reroute it through your roof instead. Yes, I know that will cause a lot of disruption to your new kitchen and extension, and additional cost, but if you refuse, I'll put a fence up tight against your vent to block it. And I don't care what environmental health or building control may say..."

For both parties here, there is only one solution, and best have it done now whilst the builders are there. The neighbour has even explained it is an option, so just no excuse not to. 

Boohoo

WIAWSNB said:

Mgman1965 said:

My look on this is if there is no intrusion (say a vent cover screwed onto the wall) into the neighbours "airspace" as in its just a flush hole in the wall neighbour can say no, but not really stop it.
As said,  they could then obstruct it with say a shed or such like and nothing they could do to make it unobstructed, BUT, relations are likely to fall apart and bad feelings are likely (and neighbour dispute be declared if you try and sell at any time).
Tough call, I'd likely say yes, but point out it could be obstructed at some point if I needed it to be for an extension/ fence etc.

I think you have outlined the most potentially awkward outcome, but still think they should go ahead and allow this?
"Yes, you can fit the exhaust there, but if it later turns out to be too intrusive - smell or noise - I'm afraid you'll have to reroute it through your roof instead. Yes, I know that will cause a lot of disruption to your new kitchen and extension, and additional cost, but if you refuse, I'll put a fence up tight against your vent to block it. And I don't care what environmental health or building control may say..."

For both parties here, there is only one solution, and best have it done now whilst the builders are there. The neighbour has even explained it is an option, so just no excuse not to. 

All the people who have commented about this (I included) don't know the layout of the OP's garden next to the new extension.

If there was a photo it would give people a better understanding of the possible location of the extractor fan/flue.

People mentioned a fence against the flue but most fans are over 6 foot high or are in the ones I have seen.

Anyhow if a photo was available from the OP it would be a help.

subjecttocontract

Personally I wouldn't want anything that would restrict my ability to extend or increase the cost of me extending my own property in the future. Often the value of a property is in part due to its potential to extend. Why agree to anything that may disadvantages yourself or the value of your property ?

WIAWSNB

Boohoo said:

All the people who have commented about this (I included) don't know the layout of the OP's garden next to the new extension.
If there was a photo it would give people a better understanding of the possible location of the extractor fan/flue.
People mentioned a fence against the flue but most fans are over 6 foot high or are in the ones I have seen.
Anyhow if a photo was available from the OP it would be a help.

This is true, but, really, what difference would it make? 

This is a house extension, so by implication it is extending out from their joint rear house faces by, what?, 4m or so? So the extractor exhaust will presumably be within that distance of the OP's house rear, typically where folk have a patio, or just like to sit. Or will pass by on the way to the deeper garden. 

Q - would you be prepared to take the risk of smell and noise from this vent location in your garden? 

And you're right - most vents will be more like 8' off the ground, so that potentially rules out using a construction like a fence or shed to block it off in the very worst case scenario, that being the neighbour says 'tough' if the OP complains later on. 

So I think there is only one sensible option here. And the neighbour has been upfront about it, which is very good news.

ic

I would not accept an extractor fan from a hob blowing on to my property.  You will have to put up with the noise of the fan blowing on full blast, and the cooking smells.  We recently had a whole thread about someone's neighbour complaining because the poster liked to cook a big full english everyday.  Imagine that blowing in your face on a daily occurrence!  

The only things I'd consider accepting would be extractors from a downstairs loo or utility room - in these cases, the fan will likely be silent or close to it, and there would just be no smells or damp air to be spoken of.

Your neighbour needs to push back on the builder to run the fan to another wall that means it vents on to their own property, or take it up through the ceiling.  Alternatively they fit a fan that recycles the air in the kitchen, then fit another extractor elsewhere in the kitchen.

sheramber

subjecttocontract said:

I don't understand why it has to protrude by 2 inches. Every vent I've ever installed has been virtually flush.

Is it an extractor fan or a cooker hood flue?

All the cooker hood flues I have had stick out of the wall. None  have been flush.